Julie Lawson

A unique insight into the ways in which one of today's leading artists is inspired by great works of the past. In 16 emphatically modern new paintings, renowned artist, Alison Watt, responds to the remarkable delicacy of the female portraits by eighteenth-century Scottish portraitist, Allan Ramsay. Watt's new works are particularly inspired by Ramsay's much-loved portrait of his wife, along with less familiar portraits and drawings. Watt shines a light on enigmatic details in Ramsay's work and has created paintings which hover between the genres of still life and portraiture. In conversation with curator Julie Lawson, Watt discusses how painters look at paintings, explains why Ramsay inspired her, and provides unique insight into her own creative process. Andrew O'Hagan responds to Watt's paintings with a new work of short fiction and art historian Tom Normand's commentary explores further layers of depth to our understanding of both artists.

Victoria Crowe is one of the world's most vital and original figurative painters. Her instantly recognisable work is represented in a large number of public and private collections. This extensively illustrated new book looks in depth at some of her own favourite portraiture. Looking at the psychology of her subjects and of herself in painting them, this is a fascinating book. Whether you are intrigued by the enigmatic stare of a psychiatrist, struck by the haunted eyes of an Auschwitz survivor or curious about the meaningful surroundings of her own self-portrait, this is an absorbing and enthralling read. Victoria Crowe lives in Scotland and Venice.

John Byrne is one of Scotland's most prolific and accomplished artists. Published on the occasion of an exhibition celebrating his contribution to the art of portraiture, this book illustrates the technical skill, brilliant draughtsmanship, versatility and inventiveness, fun and gravity that he has brought to the genre. It includes previously unpublished works from private collections, many of which are on public display for the first time. Byrne has many strings to his artistic bow. As well as being a painter he is a successful playwright. Throughout his work he explores the many facets of human nature, confronting the uniqueness and complexity of individuals. It is these skills that are mirrored in his portraiture. As well as some rare examples of Byrne's commissioned portraits, this publication celebrates some of the artist's closest relationships, being for the most part, portraits of his friends and family. To accompany this, the book features an 'in conversation' between the artist and his good friend and owner of Brown's Gallery, Tain, Gordon Brown.

The First World War is raging, and anti-German prejudice is rampant. Maddie and Will Schroeder are mourning the loss of their father, but their German heritage doesn't merit much sympathy. On the morning of December 6, there's a flash of light, then thunder underground: the Halifax Explosion hits. Instantly, the city is unrecognizable. Lost in the destroyed city, how will the siblings find each other? Exploring concepts of guilt, blame and the divide between locals and immigrants, A Blinding Light will hold readers spellbound. Teachers and parents will find plenty of topics for discussion in the book's historical and cultural lessons.

On a trip to Chinatown, thirteen-year-old Jasmine steps through a doorway back in time and finds herself in the 1880s.1994 Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize — Winner1994 Candian Library Association Book of the Year Award — Runner-up1995 Silver Birch Award — ShortlistedCCBC’s Best Books for Kids & Teens (Spring 2017) SelectionJasmine is not sure she likes the idea of being stuck in Victoria while her father goes to China. But on a field trip to Chinatown, she changes her mind. Passing through a doorway in Fan Tan Alley, she mysteriously finds herself in the early 1880s. Adventure begins with a new friend, a journey to the Fraser Canyon during the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and a search for an ancient amulet. But Jasmine is not the only one searching for the white jade tiger…

Since the nineteenth century various housing solutions have evolved, such as sprawling Australian home ownership and compact Dutch social rental housing. This phenomenon cannot be adequately explained with simple descriptions of key events, politics and housing outcomes. Critical Realism and Housing Studies pushes debate forward, arguing that a new ontological perspective is required to address fundamental issues in housing and comparative research. This book is clearly organized into three parts which:evaluate ontological and methodological alternatives for comparative housing researchprovide two historical case studies inspired by critical realist ontologycompare the causal tendencies that explain diverging housing pathways in Australia and the Netherlands.Lawson proposes that we turn to critical realism for the solution. From this perspective the causal tendencies of complex, open and structured housing phenomena are highlighted. With this insight we are able to extract the key social arrangements which promote different housing solutions from the historical case studies. Social arrangements which are found to influence alternative pathways in housing history concern the property rights, circuit of savings and investment, as well as labour and welfare relations. As they develop differently over time and space they affect where, when and how housing solutions develop.

Since the nineteenth century various housing solutions have evolved, such as sprawling Australian home ownership and compact Dutch social rental housing. This phenomenon cannot be adequately explained with simple descriptions of key events, politics and housing outcomes. Critical Realism and Housing Studies pushes debate forward, arguing that a new ontological perspective is required to address fundamental issues in housing and comparative research. This book is clearly organized into three parts which:evaluate ontological and methodological alternatives for comparative housing researchprovide two historical case studies inspired by critical realist ontologycompare the causal tendencies that explain diverging housing pathways in Australia and the Netherlands.Lawson proposes that we turn to critical realism for the solution. From this perspective the causal tendencies of complex, open and structured housing phenomena are highlighted. With this insight we are able to extract the key social arrangements which promote different housing solutions from the historical case studies. Social arrangements which are found to influence alternative pathways in housing history concern the property rights, circuit of savings and investment, as well as labour and welfare relations. As they develop differently over time and space they affect where, when and how housing solutions develop.

I got the goldstone at a time when I needed something special. I wore it for years, never thinking it was more than a beautiful pendant and a link to the past. Later I learned the the goldstone is also a link to the future. Wear it at night, and you'll see what lies ahead. With these words, Aunt Jo gives Ashley the beautiful goldstone necklace that has been in their family for nearly a century. Ashley is immediately enchanted by the magic of the stone, and can hardly wait to dream on it to see what her future holds. But fate has brought Ashley much more than the goldstone. When she wears her gift, a presence deep within the glacial mountains is awakened. A boy named Jonathan, who has transcended the bounds of time, begins to stalk her nights--and days. He, too, dreams of the future and has foreseen the moment when he can reclaim the stone. But he know that he can only do so once Ashley has joined him in the space between life and death.

In a tumble-down house carved out of the dunes lives an old man with second sight. He is the sifter of sands, the man who separates the sparkling mica, black lava, golden-reds, and misty grays. And as he sifts he mesmerizes Jessica and Andrew with his tales of the trickster-creator Raven and how a lonely young man lived to be 300 years old.